Seat belt attachment

ABSTRACT

A seat belt attachment device is an integral body having a buckle component which has a tongue fastening mechanism configured to connect with the seat belt tongue of an existing seat belt system. An attachment tongue extends from the buckle component and is designed to connect with the seat belt connector of the existing seat belt system. At least one rigid bar extends outwardly from the buckle component such that when the seat belt buckle connector and the seat belt tongue are connected to the tongue fastening mechanism and the attachment tongue, the attachment device is located between the seat belt buckle connector and the seat belt tongue and the seat belt strap can be custom wrapped around the rigid bar in order to configure the strap comfortably away from and around the body of the occupant.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a seat belt attachment device foradjusting the seat belt strap of a vehicle seat belt system in order tocomfortably accommodate pregnant and overweight vehicle occupants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Today's automobiles all require a seat belt system which utilizes a seatbelt or strap comprising a lap strap section configured to extend acrossthe waist of the seated occupant and a shoulder strap section designedto extend across one shoulder and down the occupant's upper body. Thissystem is designed to limit forward movement, especially in the event ofa collision.

The configuration of the seat belt strap, in its secured position,causes both the lap strap section and the shoulder strap section toautomatically press against the body of the occupant. This oftenpresents a problem for a pregnant individual, in that the strap willride up on and cross over the lower portion of the womb area. This isnot only uncomfortable, but it also creates an extremely dangerouscondition in that a sudden jerk caused by a collision or even the suddenstopping of the vehicle will result in the seat belt strap squeezing ortightening about the womb. This could result in injury to the fetus aswell as the mother. The constant strain of the seat belt strap acrossthe womb, even in normal use, also causes discomfort to the occupant.

While the pregnancy risk is obviously not present for men and women whoare not pregnant, overweight individuals using the seat belt system alsoexperience discomfort as a result of the seat belt strap being pressedacross the individual's body.

These inherent problems with the commonly used seat belt strap oftenresults in the individual's decision not to wear a seat belt, thuscreating a truly dangerous situation.

Prior attempts to modify seat belt systems to accommodate the pregnantand overweight occupant have consisted of reconfigured seat beltassemblies which are designed to replace the entire, existing seat beltsystems now used in automobiles. These assemblies are complex, usuallyconsisting of a number of different components. They also require agreat deal of time and effort in order to secure the occupant within thesystem. There is currently no device which can simply and readily beused in tandem with existing seat belt systems in order to comfortablyaccommodate occupants of all genders and sizes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus the object of the present invention to overcome thelimitations and disadvantages of prior seat belt systems designed to beused for seated, pregnant and overweight automobile occupants.

It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a seat beltattachment device which can be used with existing seat belt systems.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a seat beltattachment device which is simple and easy to install in existing seatbelt systems.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a seat beltattachment device which is effective in allowing the occupant toconfigure the seat belt strap, so as to ensure for the comfort of theoccupant being secured within the seat belt system.

These and other objectives are accomplished by the present invention, aseat belt attachment device which comprises an integral body having abuckle component which has a tongue fastening mechanism configured toconnect with the seat belt tongue of an existing seat belt system. Anattachment tongue extends from the buckle component and is designed toconnect with the seat belt connector of the existing seat belt system.At least one rigid bar extends outwardly from the buckle component suchthat when the seat belt buckle connector and the seat belt tongue areconnected to the tongue fastening mechanism and the attachment tongue,the attachment device is located between the seat belt buckle connectorand the seat belt tongue and the seat belt strap can be custom wrappedaround the rigid bar in order to configure the strap comfortably awayfrom and around the body of the occupant.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use,together with additional features and advantages thereof, are bestunderstood upon review of the following detailed description withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the attachment device of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the attachment device of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a view of the present invention in use with an existing seatbelt system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Attachment device 1 for a seat belt system is an integral bodycomprising buckle component 2 having a first connection means in theform of tongue fastening mechanism 4, and a second connection means inthe form of attachment tongue 6 extending from the buckle component.Tongue fastening mechanism 4 is located at the front end of bucklecomponent 2 and attachment tongue 6, located on the rear end of thebuckle component, extends outwardly and downwardly. Tongue fasteningmechanism 4 comprises a spring loaded device presently in use and commonto current seat belt buckle connectors. It is configured to accept theseat belt tongue found in vehicle seat belt systems. By the same token,attachment tongue 6 is configured to be secured within seat belt buckleconnectors commonly utilized in seat belt systems.

Rigid bars 8 and 10 extend outwardly from either side of bucklecomponent 2. While dual bars are shown, it is contemplated that only onerigid bar extending from buckle component can be used.

With specific reference to FIG. 3, attachment device is used with seat20 having an existing seat belt system comprising seat belt buckleconnector 12, strap 14, and seat belt tongue 16.

Seat belt tongue 16 of the seat belt system is inserted and securedwithin tongue fastening mechanism 4 of buckle component 2. Tongue 6 ofthe attachment device is then inserted into and secured within seat beltbuckle connector 12 of the seat belt system. In this manner, attachmentdevice 1 is located and secured between seat belt buckle connector 12and seat belt tongue 16, with rigid bars 8 and 10 extending outwardlyfrom buckle component 2.

Once attachment device 1 is secured as described above, strap 14 can bewrapped around bars 8 and 10 in a multitude of configurations, at thepleasure of the occupant of seat 20 as seen, for example, in FIG. 3.This will allow the strap to be positioned away from the body of theoccupant, providing a measure of comfort, while still maintaining saferestraint.

The use of attachment device 1 will allow strap 14 of the seat beltsystem to be positioned comfortably away from and around the user,whether that individual be pregnant, overweight or have some otherreason to custom position the strap away from the body.

Attachment device 1 is easily detached from the seat belt system byreleasing seat belt tongue 16 from tongue fastening system 4 of bucklecomponent 2 and releasing attachment tongue 6 from seat belt buckleconnector 12. Upon removal of attachment device 1, the seat belt systemcan again be utilized in its normal configuration.

Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed indetail in order to make the invention clear in at least one formthereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention asdisclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details asdisclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changesmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An attachment device for a seat belt systemhaving a seat belt buckle connector and a strap with a seat belt tongue,said attachment device comprising: an integral body comprising: a bucklecomponent comprising first connection means for receiving and securingthe seat belt tongue within the buckle component, and second connectionmeans for insertion into the seat belt buckle connector to secure thesecond connection means within the seat belt buckle connector and; tworigid bars extending outwardly from the buckle component, each barrespectively extending from each side of the buckle component, wherebywhen the seat belt tongue is secured within the buckle component and thesecond connection means is secured within the seat belt buckleconnector, the strap can be wrapped around the bars.
 2. The attachmentdevice as in claim 1 wherein the first connection means is a tonguefastening mechanism.
 3. The attachment device as in claim 1 wherein thesecond connection means is a tongue extending from the buckle component.4. The attachment device as in claim 2 wherein the second connectionmeans is a tongue extending from the buckle component.
 5. The attachmentdevice as in claim 1 wherein when the seat belt tongue is secured withinthe buckle component and the second connection means is secured withinthe seat belt buckle connector, the attachment device is located betweensaid buckle connector and said tongue.
 6. An attachment device forconnecting a seat belt buckle connector and a strap with a seat belttongue, said attachment device comprising: an integral body having abuckle component comprising a tongue fastening mechanism configured toconnect with the seat belt tongue, an attachment tongue extending fromthe buckle component configured to connect with the seat belt connector,and two rigid bars extending outwardly from the buckle component, eachbar respectively extending from each side of the buckle componentwhereby when the seat belt buckle connector and the seat belt tongue areconnected to the tongue fastening mechanism and the attachment tongue,the attachment device is located between said seat belt buckle connectorand said seat belt tongue.